Jon Stewart, the beloved comedian known for his witty and sarcastic hosting style, has made a name for himself in various entertainment fields. Starting as a stand-up comedian, he quickly ventured into television and even tried his luck in films. Born as Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz, his mischievous nature and knack for making others laugh led him to pursue a career in comedy. Adopting the stage name ‘Jon Stewart’, he honed his comedic skills and eventually landed a job as a writer for ‘Caroline’s Comedy Hour’. With his own show, ‘The Jon Stewart Show’, he became a household name. Today, he has expanded his talents to include directing and producing through his own production house, Busboy Productions.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz
- Age: 61 Years, 61 Year Old Males
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Tracey McShane (m. 2000)
- Father: Donald Leibowitz
- Mother: Marian
- Siblings: Larry, Matt Leibowitz
- Born Country: United States
- Quotes By Jon Stewart
- Jewish Comedians
- Ancestry: Polish American, Ukrainian American
- Notable Alumni: College Of William & Mary
- City: New York City
- U.S. State: New Yorkers
- Education: College Of William & Mary
Childhood & Early Life
Jon Stewart was born to Marian and Donald Leibowitz. His parents divorced when he was 11 years old, and he had limited contact with his father. He attended Lawrence High School in New Jersey and went on to graduate from The College of William & Mary in Virginia in 1984. During college, he worked various odd jobs including as a contingency planner, puppeteer, and soccer coach.
Career
Stewart moved to New York City in 1986 to pursue a career in comedy. He started out as a stand-up comedian at The Bitter End nightclub and adopted the stage name ‘Jon Stewart’. After performing at the Comedy Cellar, he became a regular and performed at 2 a.m. daily for two years. In 1989, he became a writer for the television show ‘Caroline’s Comedy Hour’ and co-hosted Comedy Central’s ‘Short Attention Span Theater’ in 1991.
In 1993, Stewart created ‘The Jon Stewart Show’, a talk show that aired on MTV and became very popular. He also made guest appearances as a host on ‘The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder’. In 1999, he took over as the host of ‘The Daily Show’ after Craig Kilborn left. Under Stewart’s leadership, the show became extremely popular and focused more on politics and national media. He became known for interviewing and debating with political figures and was credited for creating awareness about the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.
Stewart is also a best-selling author, with his book ‘America (The Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction’ being listed on several best-seller lists. He has also appeared in movies and worked as a voice actor.
Major Works
Stewart is best known for hosting ‘The Daily Show’, which combines politics, comedy, and satire. The show became one of the longest-running and most-watched shows on Comedy Central, winning 18 Primetime Emmy Awards.
Awards & Achievements
Stewart received a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for his recording ‘America (The Audiobook): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction’ in 2005. He and other members of ‘The Daily Show’ also received two Peabody Awards for their coverage of the presidential elections in 2000 and 2004.
Personal Life & Legacy
Stewart married Tracey McShane in 2000 and has two children with her.
Trivia
Stewart was named the ‘Entertainer of the Year’ for 2004 by ‘Entertainment Weekly’. An asteroid discovered in 2004 was named in his honor.